Physical Geography
Physical geography focuses on geography as an Earth science (and is sometimes called Earth System Science).
Physical geography is a branch of geography that focuses on the study of the natural features and processes of the Earth’s surface. It includes the examination of landforms, climate, vegetation, soils, and water resources. Physical geographers use a range of scientific methods and tools to analyze and understand the complex interactions between the Earth’s physical systems.
Learn about the different branches of geography that fall under the physical geography category: climatology, geomorphology, biogeography, and more.
Why the Sun Looks Smaller at Higher Altitudes
At high altitudes, the sun's aureole is much smaller because there is less atmospheric distortion from dust, pollution, or moisture spreading out the sun's visible rays.
This Interferogram Shows Ground Displacement in Italy as a Result of the Recent Earthquake
The European Space Agency posted an interferogram showing ground displacement as a result of the recent earthquake in Italy.
Mangrove Ecosystems’ Importance and Vulnerability to Climate Change
Scientists in Australia have discovered that mangrove ecosystems in Queensland are dying at rates that have never been seen before.
Your Dog Licking Your Mouth is a Perfect Example of Exaptation
An example of behavioral exaptation is the practice of wolves licking the mouths of dominant, alpha wolves to show their submission to the hierarchy of the pack.
Life Persists Around Chernobyl
Researchers are studying radiation's impact on wildlife and habitats in Chernobyl's exclusion zone.
What is Point Nemo?
Point Nemo is a pole of inaccessibility that marks the furthest location from the ocean to the nearest coastline.
Negotiations Underway at United Nations for Marine Protected Areas
The United Nations is currently developing regulations for ocean waters beyond national boundaries and exclusive economic zones, extending beyond 200 miles.
How Many Lakes Does Switzerland Have?
Learn about how many lakes there are in Switzerland and which lake is the largest.
Using Clouds to Map Ecosystem Boundaries
Researching clouds and their impact on ecosystems and species could help researchers find an entirely new way to see the Earth. By looking at clouds, researchers can add a layer of evidence to existing theories and practices of conservation of land and animals.
How Climate Change is Affecting the Forests of the Sierra Nevada
Climate change is causing certain key species in the Sierra Nevada mountains to change where they are growing according to a study published by the journal California Fish and Game.
Framework for Protecting Marine Life and Humans from Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) in the Gulf of Mexico
The US Integrated Ocean Observing System and GCOOS-RA collaborate with local institutions to monitor harmful algal blooms.
Using Song Meters to Count Frog Populations
Conservationists use cameras, acoustic sensors, and audio recording devices to count the red-legged frog in Watsonville Slough, Santa Cruz County.
Karakoram Anomaly
Landsat satellite data helped researchers analyze advancing glaciers in the Karakoram mountains, which is uncommon compared to most glaciers worldwide.
Geography of Lawns
Lawns now comprise the biggest use of land in the United States. Corn comes right behind grass as the second most grown ‘crop’ in the country.
How Unleashing Two Dams Extended Washington’s Coast
The removal of two dams along the Elwha River in the Olympic Peninsula caused an expansion of the coastline of Washington and created a massive estuary.
Noisy Mariana Trench
The researchers put a microphone encased in titanium and sent it to a depth of six miles in the Mariana Trench. The scientists were able to hear the propellers of passing ships on the surface, the sounds of a storm passing overhead, and the calls of whales.
The Great American Solar Eclipse of 2017
For the first time since 1979 a total solar eclipse will be visible from the contiguous United States on August 17, 2017. Called the Great American Solar Eclipse of 2017, the moon’s shadow track will only be visible in the United States.
Caño Cristales, the Rainbow River
The river Caño Cristales, is also known as the river of five colors for the vibrant path it winds through the Colombian landscape.
How Continents are Slowing Down Sea Level Rise
The continents of earth are helping slow down sea level rise, a new study shows. Melting glaciers and ice sheets are causing sea levels to change around the world, but the continents are actually absorbing a lot of this excess water.
MyShake App: Detecting Earthquakes Using Smartphones
The MyShake app uses a feature of smartphones called the accelerometer which can be used to detect the unique seismic vibrations of an earthquake.
Calculating Nature’s Tipping Point
A recent paper published in Nature describes a new tool that may provide the answer to modeling collapse in biological and technical systems on Earth.
What are Sprites?
Although not much is known about sprites or the factors that create them, scientists do know that sprites are created by neutrally charged cloud discharges.
Poachers Use Academic Journals to Target Newly Discovered Species
Academics have now started to omit the geographical information from their articles in order to protect endangered species from exploitation.
The Moon’s Influence on Rainfall: A Closer Look
When the moon rises it creates a ‘bulge’ in the Earth’s atmosphere which can influence how much rain is able to fall to the ground.
Bolivia’s Second Largest Lake has Disappeared
Imagery taken in 2013 and again in 2016 shows that Lake Poopó, Bolivia’s second largest lake, has dried up.
The Impacts of Arctic Melt Connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
Researchers in Global Change Biology explore how Arctic melt, merging the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, impacts animal migration.